A review by bookishlifeofbrie
The Most Precious Substance on Earth by Shashi Bhat

4.0

This book took me a bit to get into because of the narrative style, but then I was hooked and I really enjoyed this coming of age story. This is the story of Nina, a child of immigrants, and is told in her own words, and you feel like you're reading her diary. She grew up in the 90s, in Halifax so the pop culture references felt like a trip down memory lane. Early in story, Nina experiences a traumatic event and tells no one about it (this scene, while perhaps triggering to some, was written with no graphic detail) and then continues to go on living her entire life while never speaking about what happened. But not speaking up about things doesn't make them go away so it was interesting to continue reading about Nina's life and see how this one event really did guide her path in many ways. I loved her parents and their quirkiness and unconditional love for Nina. It's hard to put into words my thoughts on this book, but I'll leave you with it was a delightful surprise and if you enjoy coming of age stories, I think you'll love this one too.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy. All opinions my own.